One of our last Business visits for the UCCEO Class of 2026 was to the 🏛️ City of Anna 🏛️ in April.

While there we had the incredible opportunity to visit the the Anna Fire Department, City Hall and the Department of Public Works — and what a day it was!

We were honored to meet and learn from four dedicated community leaders:
🔹 Ms. Dori Bigler, City Administrator
🔹 Mr. Jordan Chamness, Director of Public Works
🔹 Mr. Lonnie Lewis, Department of Public Works
🔹 Mr. Tim Bowen, Captain, Anna Fire Department

Each of them generously shared advice our students will carry with them for years to come:
✅ Follow through with your responsibilities
✅ Get involved in your community
✅ It’s okay to change your career path
✅ Don’t be afraid to try new things

It takes a team of committed individuals to keep a community thriving — from budgeting, planning, and scheduling, to street repairs, trench digging, training, and public and fire safety. Dori has been a multi-year mentor to our program, generously sharing her accounting background to help our students with class business financials. Jordan and Lonnie gave us a firsthand look at everything Public Works does to keep Anna running! They also treated us to some delicious Davis Pastry Doughnuts which were much appreciated!!

Our visit to the fire station with Captain Bowen was a highlight for many of our students. We learned that his family has volunteered with the department for years, that the fire science extension program takes 2.5 years to complete, and that Captain Bowen himself holds an associate’s degree in fire science. Students got a tour of the station, and a few even tried on the firefighter turnout gear — quickly discovering just how heavy it really is! We also learned something that surprised many of us: the Anna Fire Department is fully volunteer. Knowing that our firefighters give their time on top of full-time jobs to keep our community safe gave our students a whole new level of respect for the men and women who serve.

Conversations with Dori also sparked real interest in local government among our students, with several already thinking ahead to future involvement in city council. And learning that a job with the City of Anna can start right out of high school opened eyes to just how many paths are available close to home.

These takeaways are shared by team member, Alyssa Fabian in her journal entry for this visit:

“Visiting the City of Anna gave me a completely different perspective on leadership. Instead of focusing on profit or growth, it showed me what it looks like to serve a community in ways that often go unnoticed.

Starting with Dori Bigler, I learned how important adaptability is in any career path. Even though she is someone who naturally plans ahead, she emphasized that you cannot plan everything in life. That really stuck with me because I tend to want everything figured out, especially with my future. Hearing her talk about being flexible and able to pivot reminded me that growth does not always follow a straight path. She also stressed the importance of staying informed and connected, even through something as simple as reading the newspaper. You never know when one piece of information or one connection could change the direction of your life.

When we heard from Tim Bowen at the fire department, it shifted my perspective even more. His experience showed what true service looks like. Many of the firefighters are volunteers, yet they are responsible for responding to emergencies that people depend on for survival. It made me realize how much we take for granted, like emergency response, and how much trust we place in people we may never even meet. Learning about the Emergency Response System also showed me how structured and coordinated everything has to be in high pressure situations. It is not just reacting, it is preparation, communication, and accountability.

Hearing from Jordan Chamness, the Public Works Manager, was just as impactful. His role highlighted the importance of the everyday systems we rarely think about, like water, roads, and infrastructure. One thing he said that stuck with me was not to take things like heat and water for granted. It is easy to overlook those things because they are always there, but they require constant work behind the scenes. His job showed me that leadership is not always visible, but it is essential.

Overall, this visit helped me understand that leadership in a community is not about recognition, it is about responsibility. Whether it is planning, emergency response, or maintaining basic resources, each role plays a part in keeping everything running. This experience made me reflect on the kind of leader I want to be. Someone who can adapt, serve others, and contribute to something bigger than myself, even when it goes unseen.”

The City of Anna has been a proud Investor in the UCCEO program since its beginning, and this visit was a wonderful reminder of how much our local leaders invest in the next generation. Thank you, Dori, Jordan, Lonnie, and Tim, for your time, your stories, and everything you do to keep our community running strong! 🧡

#UCCEO #CityOfAnna #CommunityPartners #Entrepreneurship #NextGenLeaders